Forests and mountains surrounding North Mavora Lake. Photo: 123RF / Will Dale
Children who spent the night lost in Southland bush could hear searchers calling for them as they hunkered down to survive the cold.
Eight-year-old Charlie and 11-year-old Lilyanna, friends from Dunedin, went missing in beech forest near the Mavora Lakes campsite they were staying at.
At about 2.30pm on Saturday they went on a bushwalk from the campground and became disorientated. Police said they received a report about 5.15pm that the children had not returned.
Search teams found the children safe and well at about 10am on Sunday, 1.5km from the campground in a clearing near the lake.
During the night it rained and temperatures had dipped below 5C.
Sergeant Terry Wood said it was fortunate they had come through the stormy night almost uninjured.
"They have ended up sleeping under a tree that they found, just huddled together for the night.
"It did rain from about 1am to 3am and they weren't dressed well for an overnight at all, they were just dressed for the day, and they didn't have any food between them."
The children had a cell phone with them, but could not get reception, Wood said.
They had been been playing with others when they became lost.
"They were out playing in the bush nearby," Wood said. "Two children have stayed behind and the other couple came in to camp - the children who were left behind [Charlie and Lilyanna] became a bit disoriented as to where they were.
"They were in their own world playing a game and suddenly east is north is south is west, and they are not quite sure where to go."
The two children stayed together once they realised they were lost, Wood said.
"In the morning, come light, they have started making their way again, unfortunately in the opposite direction of the camp.
"But they stopped in a clearing and were there for a short time when a search team walked in from the road and [were] using sound lines - so whistles and calling out - they have found the two children.
"They were remarkably upbeat and discussed what they did and why they did it [to the search party members]. Warm clothes were put on them pretty quickly once they got back to base. They just talked about it matter of factly ... both impressive wee kids."
Both children were flown to Te Anau Medical Centre to be assessed by medical staff as a precaution, but the only injury appeared to be a few minor cuts to Lilyanna's hand, Wood said.
Charlie's father, Brent McLean posted a statement on behalf of both families to social media.
"Not how we planned the weekend going. We are just so grateful that Lilyanna and Charlie were found safe and well," McLean said.
"They did all the right things and are in good spirits. We can not thank all the different response teams enough who searched all through the night and gave up their long weekend."
The search
Invercargill police led the search and rescue, with teams searching through the night and another 30 searchers deployed at first light on Sunday.
A helicopter was also brought in to assist, along with police officers, search dogs, volunteers from Land Search and Rescue and Amateur Radio Emergency Communications. People had come from coastal Dunedin, Te Anau, Invercargill and Central Otago to help.
Southland Mayor Rob Scott said it was easy to get turned around in the region's thick bush, and the children must have had a frightening time.
"It's part of Fiordland National Park, it's quite a remote area - Southland winters are normally pretty cold, but it's actually not as bad at the moment as it has been as far as the temperatures go, but it's still pretty cold out there.
"Knowing how that sort of wilderness is out there it would be fairly easy to get disoriented in that [forest]. The kids obviously did the right thing to keep themselves warm - as warm as they could be in those conditions, and to get themselves in a good position."
Scott said all resources available had been thrown into the search: "So no stone left unturned in trying to find them, and yeah - great that they got found."
Police thanked everyone who was involved in the search, including volunteers who travelled from around the Southern region to join the search.
